Southeastern NEWS
Southeastern Louisiana University
Public Information Office
publicinfo@selu.edu
SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
Date: 6/8/99
Contact: Christina Chapple 4
Editors: Photo accompanies release Please note local interest
THOMAS, RECOTTA TO HEAD NEW SLU ALUMNI BOARD
HAMMOND -- Jackie Dale Thomas of Hammond will begin her term as president of
the Southeastern Alumni Association on July 1, taking over the association's top office from
1998-99 president Donna Fugarino Taylor, also of Hammond.
Joining Thomas, a Bogalusa native, on the association's leadership panel for 1999-2000
are President-Elect Guy Recotta Jr. of Hammond and Secretary D. J. Latino of Kenner. The
officers and four new board members Tony Paul Ardillo of Amite, Joanne Gallinghouse of
Covington, Patrick G. Kenelly of Hammond and Leonard Monteleone of Covington--were
elected by active Alumni Association members by mail ballot in May. The new board is rounded
out by presidential appointees Steven Deckwa and Celene Short, both of Hammond.
The newcomers join Treasurer Charles "Tiger" Edwards of Independence and board
members Sheree Abel and Chris Bivona Eleser of Hammond, Duane Donald of Slidell and
Sharon Hebert of Metairie.
Thomas has been a member of the Southeastern staff since 1980 and currently is director
of Leadership Development and Student Activities. She is a past secretary of the alumni board
and also received the Alumni Association's L.E. Chandler Service Award and Distinguished
Service Award and the university's 1997 President's Award for Excellence in Service.
Recotta is Clerk of Court and court administrator for Hammond's city court. He chaired
the first Rock 'n Roar Fest and is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. He also has
worked with the Richard Murphy Hospice, Tangi Food Pantry, Louisiana Special Olympics and
the Hammond Chamber of Commerce and with Holy Ghost Church.
Latino is controller of Kentwood Spring Water. He is on the board of the Louisiana
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1999-2000 SLU ALUMNI BOARD Add One
Association of Business and Industry and also serves on the New Orleans Chamber of
Commerce's Education Committee, Metrovision Committee, and Governmental Affairs
Committee and is an American Cancer Society advocate.
Ardillo is president of the Tangipahoa Parish School Board and is active on the Economic
Development Board of Tangipahoa Parish and the American Red Cross.
Gallinghouse is founder and owner of Gallinghouse and Associates, Inc., an advertising,
marketing and public relations firm, and is active in organizations such as the St. Tammany West
Chamber of Commerce, the St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation, the Three Rivers
Art Festival and the Youth Services Bureau.
Southeastern's former athletic director and head football coach, Kenelly has been active
on a number of Alumni committees and is president of the Tangipahoa chapter of the Retired
Teachers Association. He is a member of the Southeastern Athletic Hall of Fame.
Monteleone has been superintendent of the St. Tammany Parish School System since
1995 and has three decades of experience as a teacher, coach and principal. He has been
instrumental in working with Southeastern on its high school cooperative developmental
education program.
A recent graduate, Deckwa was president and vice president of the Southeastern Student
Government Association. He is an accountant with the CPA firm Ericksen, Krentel Canton and
LaPorte.
Short is a guidance counselor with the Tangipahoa Parish School System where she also
has served as a teacher and assistant principal. She is a member of Southeastern's 75th
Anniversary steering committee, secretary of the Tangipahoa Federation of Teachers and is
active
in the Tangipahoa Parish Mental Health Association and Macedonia Baptist Church.
- SLU -
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